With the arrival of 2025, we officially wrapped up the first quarter of the century. Looking back, what a whirlwind it has been with some of the biggest pop culture moments of the 21st century that flooded our timelines and had our notifications buzzing.
The 21st-century memory lane is dotted with spectacular pop culture moments. Not to forget, the huge transition curve in how we experienced them — from reading about such moments in the newspaper the next morning to reacting in real-time on the internet. Social media has become our virtual front-row seat to the chaos, be it Kanye West interrupting Taylor Swift at the 2009 VMAs or Beyoncé dropping Lemonade (2016) out of nowhere and entering the country music realm.
These pop culture shockwaves weren’t just entertaining — they redefined fandoms, fueled conversations about identity and power, and even inspired social movements. Remember Britney Spears’ public struggles in the early 2000s, which later sparked the #FreeBritney campaign or Will Smith’s Oscars slap that echoed worldwide?
And of course, how can we forget the way fan theories mushroomed from every corner of the world whenever a Game of Thrones character died? The HBO series debuted in 2011 and broke its own viewership records with new seasons throughout its nearly decade-long run. The memes, debates, and endless think pieces that followed became just as iconic.
What makes these biggest pop culture moments so electrifying is that they reflect the times we live in, our triumphs and our tensions and shape our thinking. From the Timothée Chalamet lookalike contest and viral TikTok dances to 2024 Olympic athletes like Stephen Nedoroscik, aka the Pommel Horse Guy, or French pole vaulter Anthony Ammirati who missed a spot at the finals for a very awkward reason — each moment caught global attention.
So buckle up, as we dive into the 25 biggest pop culture moments of the first 25 years of the 21st century. Let’s relive the moments that made us gasp, laugh and cringe at times as the internet never forgets.
The biggest pop culture moments that have defined the 21st century, so far
1. Will Smith slapgate at the Oscars — 2022
Academy Awards are always a grand spectacle but the 2022 ceremony caught the public eye like no other.
Host comedian-actor Chris Rock joked about Best Actor winner Will Smith’s wife Jada Pinkett who shaved her hair as she was suffering from a condition called alopecia areata. In a moment of rage towards Rock’s insensitive words, Smith walked up to the stage and slapped Rock across the face. He then shouted, “Keep my wife’s name out of your f***ing mouth!”
2. Janet Jackson’s wardrobe malfunction at Super Bowl halftime show — 2004
The Nipplegate controversy is another of the shocking pop culture moments of the 21st century, which arguably “stripped” Janet Jackson of her career.
At the 2004 Super Bowl halftime show, Justin Timberlake ripped off a piece of fellow performer Jackson’s bustier. The unfortunate incident left Jackson briefly exposed to 70,000 live spectators and more than 140 million who tuned in to the TV broadcast.
Both singers called the situation a “wardrobe malfunction” but it sparked international outrage. Jackson was blacklisted by a significant portion of the music industry for years. On the contrary, Timberlake, who was 23 then, made it big as a solo artist.
Incidentally, Jawed Karim, an American software engineer who had missed the show and wanted to see the clip online, created a code with his friends Steve Chen and Chad Hurley for a video-sharing platform, today, popularly known as YouTube.
3. Kanye West interrupts Taylor Swift at the VMAs — 2009
When 19-year-old Taylor Swift received the award for Best Female Video for “You Belong With Me”, little did she know that the moment would stir up one of the biggest feuds in the entertainment industry.
It was a particularly big win for the pop star who was competing against fellow icons Beyoncé, Katy Perry, Lady Gaga, Pink and Kelly Clarkson. When Swift walked up the stage to receive the award and give an acceptance speech about what an honour it was to win a VMA as a country singer, Kanye West randomly appeared on stage, snatched the microphone and said, “I’ma let you finish, but Beyoncé had one of the best videos of all time!”
Later that night, Beyoncé won the Video of the Year award. She called Swift back on the stage and said, “I’d like for Taylor to come out and have her moment.” Whoa!
4. Lady Gaga pulls up in a meat dress — 2010
It is a given that whenever Lady Gaga makes an appearance, it’s gotta be extravagant and ICONIC! However, the Franc Fernandez-designed meat dress for the 2010 MTV Video Music Awards, remains one of the most shocking pop culture moments of the 21st century.
The bold, beef ensemble was finished with a raw meat hat, shoes and clutch. Gaga used it as a powerful statement against the US military’s “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy which barred service personnel from disclosing their sexual identity. Through this meat dress, the “Bad Romance” singer highlighted the issue of how people are being treated like meat scraps, without any freedom and liberty.
She bagged several big titles that night including Best Collaboration and Video of the Year.
5. Bruce Jenner comes out as Caitlyn Jenner — 2015
The Kardashian-Jenner clan is a cultural phenomenon in its own right. Hence when Olympic decathlete, and Kendall and Kylie Jenner’s father Bruce Jenner came out as Caitlyn, a transwoman in an interview with Diane Sawyer for 20/20 in 2015, it was a powerful moment.
Pre-transition, Caitlyn had a successful sports career and even clinched gold at the 1976 Olympic games. Years later, with this revelation, she became one of the most popular faces of trans people and the LGBTQ+ community.
6. Leonardo DiCaprio FINALLY wins an Oscar — 2016
Well, the time finally arrived and we, millennials, couldn’t be more happy. The actor received the long-due coveted honour for Alejandro González Iñárritu directorial The Revenant, marking one of the biggest pop culture moments of the 21st century so far.
Dicaprio received the award after being snubbed in the best actor category for years with What’s Eating Gilbert Grape (1993), The Aviator (2004) Blood Diamond (2006) and The Wolf of Wall Street (2013).
The then 41-year-old star was the favourite to win the accolade after he bagged both Golden Globe and BAFTA for his performance. His acceptance speech resonated strongly with the audience as he highlighted the impacts of climate change: “Climate change is real and it’s happening right now. Let us not take this planet for granted. I do not take this night for granted,” he added.
7. Royal drama: Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s wedding, Megxit and shocking memoir — 2018-2023
After the grand wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton, the world awaited the nuptials of Prince Harry and former actor Meghan Markle.
The couple got married in 2018 and welcomed their first child Prince Louis in 2019. However, frustrated with the constant media scrutiny and apparent resistance from the royal family behind the closed doors of Buckingham Palace, they shifted to the US in 2020 and stepped down as working royals. Two years later, Princess Lilibet arrived.
As conjectures about racist remarks and the drama between family dynamics kept surfacing, Prince Harry wrote an explosive memoir titled Spare in 2023. He chronicled his troubled childhood and relationship with his mother Princess Diana, his father and the Queen. He also mentions the troubles that brewed after his marriage. The couple also sat for a tell-all interview with Oprah Winfrey, which stirred up more drama than before.
Dubbed ‘Megxit’, the news became one of the most shocking pop culture moments of the 21st century.
8. The Ticketmaster controversy over Taylor Swift’s The Eras Tour — 2022
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From her historic four Album of the Year wins at the Grammys to her high-profile romance with Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce, Taylor Swift’s influence extends far beyond music.
Additionally, in 2024, she wrapped up the record-breaking The Eras Tour after 149 shows across five continents. It goes beyond saying that it has become one of the most important pop culture moments of the 21st century so far. However, it did not come without controversy. Swifties lined up early to grab tickets on 15 November 2022 on Ticketmaster but were disappointed. While some buyers were locked out after their verified fan codes failed to work, others were initially able to secure tickets but lost them and were thrown out of the process once they tried to check out.
The Midnights hitmaker said her team had spoken with Ticketmaster and “asked them, multiple times, if they could handle this kind of demand and we were assured they could.” The Grammy winner also wrote that the situation “really p*sses me off” and that she was actively working on a solution for her fans.
American ticket sales and distribution company Ticketmaster, on the other hand, called it a situation of “historically unprecedented demand”. US politicians like Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez came out in support of fans and said that Ticketmaster has been wielding a “monopoly” after the merger with popular events promoter Live Nation and “they need to be reigned in.” The US Justice Department opened a probe and fans filed lawsuits against Live Nation Entertainment.
9. The extravaganza that was the Anant Ambani wedding — 2024
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The grandeur, the extravaganza, the A-list guestlist and the celebrations — Anant Ambani and Radhika Merchant’s wedding was everything that fairytales are made of. It won’t be an exaggeration to call it the wedding of the century.
Spanning months, the celebrations kickstarted with a three-day lavish pre-wedding in March in Jamnagar featuring electrifying performances by global stars like Rihanna, Akon and Diljit Dosanjh. Billionaires Bill Gates and Mark Zuckerberg attended.
In June, the celebration continued with a luxurious cruise from Italy to France where VIP guests were treated to performances by Katy Perry and the Backstreet Boys. After over 10 pre-wedding functions, the couple finally tied the knot in July in Mumbai where Justin Bieber dazzled the sangeet night.
The jaw-dropping extravaganza reportedly cost over USD 600 million. The cost eclipsed other lavish weddings like King Charles and Princess Diana, Prince William and Kate Middleton and Emirati royal Sheikha Hind Bint bin Maktoum’s wedding.
10. Squid Game and Parasite creating history for Korean entertainment
For over a decade, both Korean series and movies have taken the world by storm and Squid Game (2021-) and Parasite (2019) are prime examples.
The series, created by Hwang Dong-hyuk, is Netflix’s most-watched non-English show of all time. The first season bagged six Primetime Emmy Awards, three SAG Awards, a Golden Globe and two Critics Choice Awards. After a long break, season two dropped in 2024 and the final chapter, season 3 is expected to release in 2025.
Bong Joon-ho’s Parasite, on the other hand, created history by becoming the first Korean film to win the prestigious Palme d’Or at the Cannes Film Festival. It was also the first foreign-language film to win the Academy Award for Best Picture.
They paved the way and soon the world was riding the Hallyu wave like never before ushering in some memorable pop culture moments of the 21st century so far.
11. Lionel Messi lifts FIFA World Cup — 2022
The 2020s saw the ultimate debate of all time getting an answer— who is the GOAT, Lionel Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo? — get an answer. While fans may still debate about it, the 2022 Qatar FIFA World Cup saw the Argentinian icon lift the golden trophy! Messi fans have long awaited this moment to see their hero lift the trophy.
Argentina defeated champion France by a 3-3 score leading to a penalty shootout. This marked the blue-and-white brigade’s first championship win in 36 years. What a moment to be alive for football fans!
12. The Titan submersible implosion — 2023
One of the most shocking pop culture moments in recent times has to be the Titan submersible implosion. On 18 June 2023, the Titan submersible from a deep sea exploration company called OceanGate went missing. Aboard the vehicle were one pilot and four passengers — OceanGate CEO Stockton Rush, businessman Shahzada Dawood, his son Suleman, businessman Hamish Harding and French diver Paul-Henri Nargeolet. They were travelling to see the wreckage of the RMS Titanic, which sits nearly 4,000 metres under the frigid North Atlantic Ocean.
An hour and 45 minutes into the voyage, ground contact with Titan was lost. A massive search and rescue operation was underway from the United States and Canadian authorities. The Titan had 96 hours of oxygen supply for five people. The search ended on 22 June after the US Coast Guard announced that the vessel debris was found which was “consistent with the catastrophic loss of the pressure chamber” on the seafloor, about 1,600 feet from the bow of the Titanic, states NPR.
13. Envelopegate: The La La Land and Moonlight mix-up at the Oscars — 2017
Since its inception, the Oscars have had their share of drama. But nothing comes close to the 2017 ‘envelopegate,’ where presenters Faye Dunaway and Warren Beatty handed the Best Picture prize to La La Land inadvertently. Minutes after the team proceeded to receive the top award and gave their acceptance speech, Moonlight was declared the actual winner.
The fiasco stunned Hollywood and global audiences. A PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) partner mistakenly handed the Best Actress envelope — which had already been awarded to Emma Stone for La La Land — instead of Best Picture.
14. Elon Musk taking over Twitter — 2022
the bird is freed
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) October 28, 2022
What more can we say, perhaps it was one moment, we took time to come to terms with. In October 2022, tech mogul Elon Musk took over Twitter after a USD 44 billion deal. He made headlines by entering the Twitter headquarters with a giant sink in hand and tweeted, “Entering Twitter HQ – let that sink in!”
He even fired Twitter’s Indian-origin CEO Parag Agarwal, the company’s head of legal, policy and trust Vijaya Gadde and CFO Ned Segal, along with Twitter’s general counsel Sean Edgett.
After a dramatic turn of events, Musk posted, “The reason I acquired Twitter is that it is important to the future of civilization to have a common digital town square, where a wide range of beliefs can be debated in a healthy manner, without resorting to violence. There is currently great danger that social media will splinter into far right-wing and far left-wing echo chambers that generate more hate and divide our society,” he said in the statement.
Dear Twitter Advertisers pic.twitter.com/GMwHmInPAS
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) October 27, 2022
He soon changed, rather freed, the bluebird and renamed the company to X, to create an “everything app”. In April 2023, Twitter was officially renamed X Corp., as was revealed in a filing in California.
15. Donald Trump’s impeachment and re-election — 2021-2024
He was elected as the 45th US President from 2017-2021. He became the first President to be impeached during the second term. A tough campaign, reports about storming the Capitol, being shot in the ear and returning to take office as the 47th President — Donald Trump has had a dramatic turn.
A strong competition from the Kamala Harris-Tim Walz front did not deter him from his mission. The elections became quite close and ultimately, the Republic candidate emerged victorious.
16. Michael Jackson’s shocking death — 2009
The King of Pop was and continues to be a major pop culture phenomenon whose songs, performances and aura transcends generations. Jackson revolutionised the way of touring, stage presentations and music videos and even paved the way for black musicians in the West. When he released his blockbuster album Thriller (1982), it made him one of the most recognised figures in the world.
However, with time and burgeoning fame came news of a bizarre lifestyle. Allegations of sexually abusing minors surfaced and were followed by various legal battles. Jackson rarely performed in public after this and had incurred financial debts. He was heavily dependent on prescription opioids.
Jackson’s shocking death on 25 June 2009, weeks before his highly-anticipated comeback tour, was caused by an overdose of drugs his physician Conrad Murray prescribed. It left a void in the entertainment scene.
The news spread like wildfire including Google, AOL Instant Messenger, X (then Twitter) and Wikipedia to nearly break down. Fans flocked to pay homage to him at his Hollywood Walk of Fame star and his mansion. Murray was convicted in 2010 of involuntary manslaughter and sentenced to four years in prison.
17. Barbenheimer — 2023
In 2023, the two most anticipated films — Greta Gerwig’s Barbie and Christopher Nolan’s Oppenheimer — took each other by the horns at a mega box office clash, giving rise to one of the most shocking pop culture moments of the century. They both released on 21 July and ranked among the highest-grossing films of the year.
After a tough battle, Barbie outperformed at the global box office, garnering USD 1.4 billion while Oppenheimer swept the Academy Awards winning seven Oscars, including Best Director and Best Picture.
The Barbenheimer rivalry sparked memes and jokes, and Emily Blunt and Ryan Gosling playfully roasted each other on the 2024 Oscar stage.
18. The launch of the iPhone — 2007
The device that changed the world and revolutionised human interaction with technology in unimaginable ways — the first iPhone was launched in 2007 by Steve Jobs. Undoubtedly it marked one of the most historic moments of pop culture of the 21st century.
Since its debut, Apple has launched an upgraded version every year that pushes the boundaries of innovation and design. Early game-changing features like fast internet connectivity, text messaging, and a built-in camera paved the way for the standard smartphone. Massive improvements in display quality, battery power, sound quality, the airdrop feature, and a secured Apple ecosystem continue to support the brand’s inaugural claim to reinvent the phone altogether.
Since its launch in 2007, today, we have the iPhone 16. In 2025, Apple loyalists are awaiting the iPhone 17.
19. The rise of the Kardashians — 2007
Like them or hate them, you cannot ignore the Kardashian-Jenner clan. With matriarch and momager, Kris Jenner managing her children’s business and lifestyles, the six siblings, their partners and children have seen a meteoric rise, courtesy of their reality TV show Keeping Up With The Kardashians (2007-2021).
Each of them has extravagant businesses, a colossal net worth and is noted for their over-the-top lifestyle.
20. Boy bands became cool again: One Direction, BTS and more
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Back in the ‘90s, it was The Beatles, but with the turn of the century came pop culture phenomena like One Direction, Jonas Brothers and BTS who revived the boy band phenomenon. Their charismatic songs, catchy lyrics and youthful appeal made them hit with younger audiences.
One Direction, the English-Irish pop boy band formed in London in 2010 led to the resurgence of similar vocal groups in the 2000s. From their chart-topping hits to securing the worldwide best-selling album in 2013, they ruled the rising pop scene in the internet era. Their disbanding in 2016 sent shockwaves among fans.
Soon after, around 2018, K-pop boy bands like BTS attained global recognition for their catchy songs, detailed choreography, grand live performances, and extravagantly produced music videos.
We also witnessed the formation, break-up and reunion of the extremely successful band Jonas Brothers in the 21st Century. They celebrate their 20th anniversary in 2025.
21. Brad Pitt, Angelina Jolie and Jennifer Aniston’s love triangle and drama — 2000-2016
This high-profile love triangle ruled celebrity columns becoming one of the biggest pop culture moments in the 21st century. Aniston and Pitt were Hollywood’s IT couple and were married between 2000 and 2005 before the latter moved on with Jolie.
It all started on the sets of Mr and Mrs Smith (2005) whose filming began in 2004. Rumours about an alleged affair between the co-stars led to the ultimate breakdown of Pitt and Aniston’s marriage. Although they both denied all reports of a relationship, three months later, Jolie reportedly confirmed their connection by tipping off a photographer about strolling in Kenya with Pitt and her son Maddox.
The Brangelina duo made some memorable appearances and adopted kids and in 2012, the actress was seen wearing a gorgeous engagement ring. Two years later, they walked down the aisle. However, just when we thought the fairytale had begun to grow strong, in 2016, Jolie filed for divorce, citing irreconcilable differences. Amid drama over their vineyard and children’s custody, the annulment is yet to be finalised.
Also read: Meet Angelina Jolie And Brad Pitt’s Kids
22. Madonna, Britney Spears and Christina Aguilera kiss at the VMAs — 2003
It was the VMAs, and the three music stars were performing “Like a Virgin” when they shared a three-way kiss on stage, creating the most-talked smooch of the time. In her memoir, The Woman In Me, Spears wrote that during rehearsals, they had practised air kisses, but right before going on stage, Spears suggested it might be a good idea to elevate things.
It became a defining pop culture moment of all time, and rightfully so! The world saw the bold performance as Madonna leaned in to kiss Spears before taking the performance forward.
23. Britney Spears’ conservatorship — 2008-2021
In 2008, several aspects of Britney Spears’ finances, including earrings and estate, as well as her personal life were controlled by her father Jamie Spears under a form of legal guardianship called a conservatorship. This took place after she faced a public mental health crisis.
However, in 2019, Jamie stepped down from controlling her personal life which was then taken care of by a court-appointed professional. Despite the conservatorship, she continued to make chart-topping albums, held her Las Vegas residency and took her career forward. She spoke through her lawyers and claimed that her father was abusing her status.
It led to a widespread public cry and the Free Britney movement sprung up. Her fans garnered a mass movement in her favour and, eventually, in 2021, the conservatorship ended. This 13-year-long episode led to some of the most shocking pop culture moments of the century that Spears wrote about in her memoir.
24. The Johnny Depp and Amber Heard trial — 2022
The highly publicised and televised trial of actors Johnny Depp and Amber Heard kept both the US state of Virginia and global audiences engaged as new details emerged every now and then.
Depp slammed his ex-wife for defamation over an op-ed she wrote for the Washington Post, where she alleged she was a domestic abuse victim, though it did not mention his name. Heard counter-sued. Jurors awarded Depp, who denied the charges, USD 15 million as compensatory and punitive damages. Heard won one of three counter-claims against Depp and was awarded USD 2 million in compensatory damages.
As opinions remain divided, the notorious public hearing became the first ‘trial by TikTok’ for it opened room for parallel judgment and conversations on social media. In 2023, Netflix released a documentary chronicling the entire proceeding.
25. J-Lo’s Versace dress at the Grammys — 2000
Jennifer Lopez turned heads right at the beginning of the 21st century with the green Versace gown she wore to the 42nd Grammy Awards. The dress’s daring jungle-print design and plunging neckline made it an instant internet sensation, creating one of the biggest pop culture moments.
According to Project Syndicate, the frenzy created by the dress reportedly led to the making of Google Images, as users desperately searched for pictures of Lopez in the stunning gown.
In 2019, Lopez made her Versace runway debut wearing a reimagined version of the dress. This nostalgic nod cemented the dress’s status as a timeless piece.
(Hero image credit: Image credit: Mark Ralston / AFP; Squid Game/ IMDb; President Donald J. Trump/ @realdonaldtrump via Instagram; Featured image credit: Leo Messi/ @leomessi via Instagram)
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Trinetra is an ardent foodie and bibliophile who writes about films, travel, food and lifestyle. As a writer and literature student, slam poetry and storytelling are her go to jam. When not working, Trinetra is busy looking for her next place to visit or binge-watching Instagram videos for travel inspiration.
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